The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-02
AERIAL SHIPS OF WARFARE.
An Aeronaut's Plan for Dropping Dy-
Mantle from Balloons on the Enemy.
Two Extraordinary Methods of Protecting the
HarbOrs of America from INVASION
Invention Of War Kite.

Prof Rufus Gibbon Wells, who, for something
more than year. has been resident of this
city, is gentleman with q white and flowing
patriarchal beard, low, well-modulated voice,
and altogether appears to be as plain, matter of
fact and methodical a person as one would be
likely to meet in days journey. He is certainly
the last person one would pick out as traveller
and a man Of adventure. No one would select
him as bold and skllful aeronaut, man who
has made over 500 balloon ascensions, having
sailed the blue ether in almost every country on
the globe. In 1870, at Cologne, he made balloons
for the German army, and afterwards took serv
ice as balloon maker and instructor in aero
nautics with the French. While in the employ
Of the French government Lie made the largest
balloon the world has ever seen, the silk in it
costing $1,000 This balloon was It's feet long,
made of silk, lined with cotton, specially pre-
pared paper made at Angouleme being placed
between these fabrics to add strength, and make
the air-ship as tight as drum.
The Professor is thoroughly American, and the
rumors of war following the fsh-bait difficulty
between this country and Canada have deeply
interested him. "If war comes" said the veneer
able skinner of the air to a Journal reporter,
II am ready to offer my services. Aeronautics
will hereafter play more important part in
warfare than ever before. I would propose to
the government to make the same kind of bal
loon made for the French government making
it, however, fully five hundred feet in length.
Such balloon would, of course be able to carry
great weight. Let me explain how it could be
used to protect harbor like that of New York
or Boston cable attached to the balloon
would be connected with an immense windass
on shore Prevailing winds on our Eastern coast
fr0v, Icl11 ~
by the cable just like kite It could be sent
out five. ten, fifteen, twenty, or even twenty-five
miles to There would be a telegraph OPP
orator on the air-ship and one at the windlass,
so that communication could be kept up between
them-or telephone communication would an
swer. The balloon Unanswered in this way
could be brought directly over an enemy's war
vessel Balls dropped from the balloon could
determine whether directly over the ship not
and when the exact position was found
| dynamite in any quantity, up to even a
| ton, could be dropped upon the ship This, of
| course, would mean humiliation to any vessel
| so operated upon. harbor with dynamite
| balloon poised over its entrance. in this way,
| would be safe from all invasion. In Chicago.
| spoke to Gen. Phil. Sheridan of my method of
| harbor defense. He was much interested, and
| give him full explanation. The balloon could
| be raised or lowered to any height by compress
| ing the gas. Such balloons could be operated on
| our Canadian border. and, by means of dyna-
| niue, we cOulU Destroy any army sent against
| us. San Francisco could be protected by bal
looms in the same way though, perhaps there
would be more difficulties to overcome on &C
count of the difference in the prevailing wind on
! the Pacific coast.
| II have invented a war kite on which intend
| to take out patent. These kites will be ope-
| rated just as the balloons by means of wind
lass. with an aeronaut or telegrapher on the kite
| to communicate with the shore. The kite can
| be made several hundred feet in length and
carry, if required. ton of dynamite. A kite
| could be used in windy weather better than a
| balloon, and it could also, of course, be used
| even when there was only light breeze. There
| is no doubt about the accuracy with which
| dynamite could be dropped down upon an in
vader. The new destructive substance recently
| experimental with in France could be used just
| AS effectively as dynamite. 1 would be willing
| to operate these balloons or kites myself and to
teach others to operate them. All these things.
| in case of threatened war. can be got ready in a
| months time. Hundreds of them would be
needed to defend our coasts, but have no doubt
| whatever of the full success that would attend
their operation"